He said before leaving for Australia that he has gained 4 kg muscles during the off season. A bit too much for my liking. It was the same with Hewitt when he was working with Rasheed, he was looking like a body builder.

4-1, he's playing OK so far, solid serving and he hit a couple of winners. It's horribly windy, but I don't think it's a problem for Gaël, he doesn't mind playing poorly.

I was hoping he'd show some of that firepower that he had at the end of last year, but I guess the conditions are not ideal; plus Hernych is really making it difficult for him to find some motivation... So 6-2 it is.

I think he's doing well! Not too far behind his baseline and hitting big serves, that's fine for me for a first match in very windy conditions. 6-2 in 25', 7 aces, 65% first serves.
He changed something in his serve motion, it looks weird.

The German commentator is annoying, "Monfils' game is too naïve, it's good enough against Hernych, but not against top 10 players", blablabla... He does OK against top 10 players with his "naïve" tennis, coco. It makes him a bit unpredictable.

5-1, serving for the match, Hernych is horrible.
Rebreak - the S&V attempt on MP was not necessary, Gaël.
He breaks to love with the help of Hernych, 6-2 6-2 in 55'.

Yeah I don't know. He looks in good shape and everything, and it's pretty evident from this match that he's going to keep crushing journeymen without breaking a sweat this year, but I'm not sure that's going to be enough against the best players. We'll see what he does against Nadal I guess, if he tries to go for his shots more.

Yeah I don't know. He looks in good shape and everything, and it's pretty evident from this match that he's going to keep crushing journeymen without breaking a sweat this year, but I'm not sure that's going to be enough against the best players. We'll see what he does against Nadal I guess, if he tries to go for his shots more.

Gael knows how to raise his game when the situation calls for it. I'm not saying that he'll beat Nadal, but I'm sure his quality of play will be much higher against him. I think the general idea is to expend as little energy as possible to dismiss the lower ranked guys (like Hernych), and save your best tennis for the big matches. We can't expect Gael to play "beautiful" tennis in every match. As long as he wins, that's all we can ask for!

Gael knows how to raise his game when the situation calls for it. I'm not saying that he'll beat Nadal, but I'm sure his quality of play will be much higher against him. I think the general idea is to expend as little energy as possible to dismiss the lower ranked guys (like Hernych), and save your best tennis for the big matches. We can't expect Gael to play "beautiful" tennis in every match. As long as he wins, that's all we can ask for!

I guess. It's just that I'm not usually a fan of his game but I was really impressed with some of his matches at the end of last year, and I was hoping he'd try to play that way more consistently.